Voltage-regulator.



No. 794.365. PATENIED JULY 11, 1905.

I P. M. LINCOLN.

VOLTAGE REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30, 1904.

ia'emum WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES Patented July 11,1905.

PATENT Orricn.

PAUL M. LINCOLN, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO VVEST- INGHOUSE ELEC' RIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

VOLTAGE-REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 794,365, dated July 11, 1905.

Application filed June 30,1904. Serial No. 214,817.

To (LZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PAUL M. LINCOLN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident ot Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Voltage-Regulators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to voltage regulation of electric circuits; and it has for its object to provide a simple and 'eflicient means for automatically making and breaking ashort circuit around a resistance that is normally connected in series with the field-magnet of the generator which supplies the circuit the voltage of which is to be regulated.

It has been proposed to regulate the voltage of a supply-circuit by intermittingly cutting resistance into and out of the circuit of the field-magnet of the main generator through the action of a solenoid upon a vibratory contact-terminal that is in position to make and break contact with an adjacent stationary contact-terminal.

The general object to be attained by the use of my invention is the same as that above mentioned; but instead of employing a vibratory contact-terminal which is caused to automatically make and break engagement with an adjacent stationary contact-terminal, and thus cut a resistance into and out of circuit, I provide a continuously-rotating cylinder or drum formed in two segments separated by insulation, the form of which is such as to enable me to effect the desired result by means of a continuous contact of one of the circuit-terminals with the surface of such drum or cylinder.

In the accompanying drawing, the single figure 01" which illustrates my invention, the main circuit 1 2, the voltage of which is to be regulated, is supplied by a generator 3,'the field-magnet winding 4; of which is normally connected in series with a resistance 5, suitable translating devices 6, which require substantially constant voltage, being connected to the circuit 1 2 in the usual manner.

Connected across the circuit 1 2 so as to be sensitive to the voltage of that circuit is a comparatively high resistance solenoid 7, the

movable core 8 of which is suspended from a 13 and being continuously rotated by any suit able meanssuch, for example, as an electric motor 14, this motor being supplied with current either from the generator 3 or from a separate source of energy, as may be desired.

The drum .11 is made up of two segments 15 and 16, which are separated by insulating material 17, the adjacent faces of the two segments, and consequently the material 17 which joins them, being so formed that on one side of a given diametral plane the segment 16 constitutes the greater'portion of the length of the entire cylinder, while on the opposite side the segment 15 constitutes the major portion of the length of the cylinder.

The arm 9 is provided with a contact device or brush 18, that makes continuous electrical contact with the surface of the drum, and the conductor 2 is in constant electrical connection with the segment 16 of the drum by means of a suitable brush 19. The two segments are permanently connected through a condenser 20, by means of brushes 21 and 22, which serves to absorb such sparks as maybe produced in the operation of the device.

In the operation of the apparatus it will be noted that if the voltage on the circuit 1 2 rises the solenoid 7 will draw the core 8 downward, and thus raise the brush 18. It the arm 9 and the core 8 are in approximately the positions indicated in the drawing, the brush 18 will be alternately in contact with the segments 15 and 16; but if the voltage rises sufficiently high the core 8 will be drawn downward, the brush 18 will be raised so that it will be continuously in contact with the segment 15 during the entire rotation of the drum, and there will be no short circuit around the resistance 5. On the other hand, if the voltage is so low that the brush 18 is permitted to descend to the point where it makes continuous contact with the segment 16 a continuous short circuit is thereby established. If the brush is at an intermediate point, as indicated in the drawing, it will pass from one segment to the other, and thus alternately make and break the short circuit around the resistance 5. It will be understood, therefore, that the average amount of resistance in series with the field-magnet winding of the generator may be maintained such as to insure a substantially constant voltage on the line 1 2.

The device comprising this invention will be found particularly useful in the regulation of the field-exciting generators for alternating-current dynamos, in which case the terminals of the solenoid 7 should be connected to the conductors of the main circuit. For whatever purpose the invention may be employed the terminals of the solenoid 7 should be connected to the conductors of the circuit the voltage of which is to be regulated.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination with a dynamo-electric generator, of a resistance normally connected in series with the field-magnet winding of said generator, a rotating drum comprising two parts insulated from each other, means for connecting one terminal of said resistance to one of said drum parts, a brush which is connected to the other resistance terminal and makes contact with the surface of said drum, and means controlled by the voltage of the generator-circuit for shifting the brush longitudinally on said drum.

2. The combination with an electric generator, of a resistance normally connected in series with the generator field-magnet, a rotating,conducting-0ylinder comprising two parts of irregular shape that are insulated from each other, a brush for connecting one of the cylinder parts with one terminal of the resistance, a second brush for connecting the cylinder with the other terminal of the resistance and means controlled by the generator voltage and serving to so shift the second brush that it will make contact with either segment of the cylinder or with both segments alternately.

3. In a voltage-regulator, the combination with a resistance and a rotary cylinder comprising two sections separated by an angular insulation-plate, of a contact device in constant engagement with one section of the cylinder and connected to one terminal of the resistance, an adjustable contact device and .means for automatically adjusting the same resistance-terminals so that it will engage the one or the other cylinder-section or each of them in alternation.

4. The combination with an electric generator and a resistance normally connected in series with its field-magnet winding, of a rotary cylinder comprising two segments insulated from each other and means cooperating with said cylinder in accordance with the generator voltage to electrically connect and dis connect the resistance-terminals.

5. The combination with an electric generator and a resistance normally in series with its field-magnet, of a two-segment cylinder, means for continuously rotating the same, a condenser having its terminals connected to the respective segments, contact devices interposed between the cylinder and the resistance-terminals and a voltage-responsive coil for adjusting one of said contact devices to make and break a short circuit around the resistance.

6. The combination with a generator and a resistance normally in series with its lieldmagnet winding, of a two-segment cylinder, means for continuously rotating the same, contact devices interposed between the cylinder and the resistance-tcrminals and a voltageresponsive coil for adjusting one of said contact devices to make and break a short circuit around said resistance.

7. The combination with a generator and a resistance normally in series with its [ieldmagnet winding, of a two-segment condueting-cylinder, means for rotating the same, contact devices interposed between the cylinder and the resistance-terminals, and a voltage-rcsponsive coil connected across the generator-circuit and serving to adjust one of said contact devices longitudinally of the cylinder as the generator voltage varies.

8. The combination with a generator and a resistance normally in series with its fieldmagnet winding, of a continuously-movable member comprising two conducting parts of irregular form separated by insulation, contact devices interposed between said member and the resistance-terminals, and a coil that is subjected to the generator voltage to so adjust one of said contact devices in accordance with variations thereof as to make and break a short circuit around the resistance.

.In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 28th day of June, ladle.

PAUL M. LINCOLN.

\Vitnesses:

Anon L. llamas, BIRNEY HINns. 

